Tennessee coach suspended over video of stroking girl’s back

Friday

EAGLEVILLE — A high school baseball coach in Tennessee has been suspended over a video that shows him caressing a female student’s back in an apparent side hug.

News outlets report Eagleville High School coach Travis Holland was suspended without pay this week pending a district investigation. But WZTV-TV reports that the girl’s parents say people are misunderstanding the video, and that Holland was actually consoling their daughter over a death in her family.

County schools spokesman James Evans says the district learned about the video Tuesday and notified parents. Evans says local law enforcement and the Department of Children’s Services reviewed the video and declined to investigate Holland, who also teaches history at the school.